Psalms 118 – This Is the Day the LORD Hath Made

A thanksgiving psalm of victory, famous for the rejected stone made the head cornerstone.

Psalms 118 – The Stone the Builders Refused

After the brief praise of Psalms 117, this longer thanksgiving opens with the refrain 'his mercy endureth for ever' repeated by Israel, the house of Aaron, and all who fear the LORD.


`The titil of the hundrid and eiytenthe salm. Alleluia. Blessid ben men with out wem in the weie; that gon in the lawe of the Lord.

Blessid ben thei, that seken hise witnessingis; seken him in al the herte.

For thei that worchen wickidnesse; yeden not in hise weies.

Thou hast comaundid; that thin heestis be kept greetly.

I wolde that my weies be dressid; to kepe thi iustifiyngis.

Thanne Y schal not be schent; whanne Y schal biholde perfitli in alle thin heestis.

I schal knouleche to thee in the dressing of herte; in that that Y lernyde the domes of thi riytfulnesse.

I schal kepe thi iustifiyngis; forsake thou not me on ech side.

In what thing amendith a yong waxinge man his weie? in keping thi wordis.

In al myn herte Y souyte thee; putte thou me not awei fro thin heestis.

In myn herte Y hidde thi spechis; that Y do not synne ayens thee.

Lord, thou art blessid; teche thou me thi iustifiyngis.

In my lippis Y haue pronounsid; alle the domes of thi mouth.

I delitide in the weie of thi witnessingis; as in alle richessis.

I schal be ocupied in thin heestis; and Y schal biholde thi weies.

I schal bithenke in thi iustifiyngis; Y schal not foryete thi wordis.

Yelde to thi seruaunt; quiken thou me, and Y schal kepe thi wordis.

Liytne thou myn iyen; and Y schal biholde the merueils of thi lawe.

I am a comeling in erthe; hide thou not thin heestis fro me.

Mi soule coueitide to desire thi iustifiyngis; in al tyme.

Thou blamedist the proude; thei ben cursid, that bowen awei fro thin heestis.

Do thou awei `fro me schenschipe and dispising; for Y souyte thi witnessingis.

For whi princis saten, and spaken ayens me; but thi seruaunt was exercisid in thi iustifiyngis.

For whi and thi witnessyngis is my thenkyng; and my counsel is thi iustifiyngis.

Mi soule cleuede to the pawment; quykine thou me bi thi word.

I telde out my weies, and thou herdist me; teche thou me thi iustifiyngis.

Lerne thou me the weie of thi iustifiyngis; and Y schal be exercisid in thi merueils.

Mi soule nappide for anoye; conferme thou me in thi wordis.

Remoue thou fro me the weie of wickidnesse; and in thi lawe haue thou merci on me.

I chees the weie of treuthe; Y foryat not thi domes.

Lord, Y cleuede to thi witnessyngis; nyle thou schende me.

I ran the weie of thi comaundementis; whanne thou alargidist myn herte.

Lord, sette thou to me a lawe, the weie of thi iustifiyngis; and Y schal seke it euere.

Yyue thou vndurstonding to me, and Y schal seke thi lawe; and Y schal kepe it in al myn herte.

Lede me forth in the path of thin heestis; for Y wolde it.

`Bowe thou myn herte in to thi witnessingus; and not in to aueryce.

Turne thou awei myn iyen, that `tho seen not vanyte; quykene thou me in thi weie.

Ordeyne thi speche to thi seruaunt; in thi drede.

Kitte awey my schenschip, which Y supposide; for thi domes ben myrie.

Lo! Y coueitide thi comaundementis; quikene thou me in thin equite.

And, Lord, thi merci come on me; thin heelthe come bi thi speche.

And Y schal answere a word to men seiynge schenschipe to me; for Y hopide in thi wordis.

And take thou not awei fro my mouth the word of treuthe outerli; for Y hopide aboue in thi domes.

And Y schal kepe thi lawe euere; in to the world, and in to the world of world.

And Y yede in largenesse; for Y souyte thi comaundementis.

And Y spak of thi witnessyngis in the siyt of kingis; and Y was not schent.

And Y bithouyte in thin heestis; whiche Y louede.

And Y reiside myn hondis to thi comaundementis, whiche Y louede; and Y schal be excercisid in thi iustifiyngis.

Lord, haue thou mynde on thi word to thi seruaunt; in which word thou hast youe hope to me.

This coumfortide me in my lownesse; for thi word quikenede me.

Proude men diden wickidli bi alle thingis; but Y bowide not awei fro thi lawe.

Lord, Y was myndeful on thi domes fro the world; and Y was coumfortid.

Failing helde me; for synneris forsakinge thi lawe.

Thi iustifiyngis weren delitable to me to be sungun; in the place of my pilgrimage.

Lord, Y hadde mynde of thi name bi niyt; and Y kepte thi lawe.

This thing was maad to me; for Y souyte thi iustifiyngis.

Lord, my part; Y seide to kepe thi lawe.

I bisouyte thi face in al myn herte; haue thou merci on me bi thi speche.

I bithouyte my weies; and Y turnede my feet in to thi witnessyngis.

I am redi, and Y am not disturblid; to kepe thi comaundementis.

The coordis of synneris han biclippid me; and Y haue not foryete thi lawe.

At mydnyyt Y roos to knouleche to thee; on the domes of thi iustifiyngis.

I am parcener of alle that dreden thee; and kepen thin heestis.

Lord, the erthe is ful of thi merci; teche thou me thi iustifiyngis.

Lord, thou hast do goodnesse with thi seruaunt; bi thi word.

Teche thou me goodnesse, and loore, and kunnyng; for Y bileuede to thin heestis.

Bifor that Y was maad meke, Y trespasside; therfor Y kepte thi speche.

Thou art good; and in thi goodnesse teche thou me thi iustifiyngis.

The wickidnesse of hem that ben proude, is multiplied on me; but in al myn herte Y schal seke thin heestis.

The herte of hem is cruddid as mylk; but Y bithouyte thi lawe.

It is good to me, that thou hast maad me meke; that Y lerne thi iustifiyngis.

The lawe of thi mouth is betere to me; than thousyndis of gold and of siluer.

Thin hondis maden me, and fourmeden me; yyue thou vndurstondyng to me, that Y lerne thin heestis.

Thei that dreden thee schulen se me, and schulen be glad; for Y hopide more on thi wordis.

Lord, Y knewe, that thi domes ben equite; and in thi treuth thou hast maad me meke.

Thi merci be maad, that it coumforte me; bi thi speche to thi seruaunt.

Thi merciful doyngis come to me, and Y schal lyue; for thi lawe is my thenkyng.

Thei that ben proude be schent, for vniustli thei diden wickidnesse ayens me; but Y schal be exercisid in thin heestis.

Thei that dreden thee be turned to me; and thei that knowen thi witnessyngis.

Myn herte be maad vnwemmed in thi iustifiyngis; that Y be not schent.

Mi soule failide in to thin helthe; and Y hopide more on thi word.

Myn iyen failiden in to thi speche; seiynge, Whanne schalt thou coumforte me?

For Y am maad as a bowge in frost; Y haue not foryete thi iustifiyngis.

Hou many ben the daies of thi seruaunt; whanne thou schalt make doom of hem that pursuen me?

Wickid men telden to me ianglyngis; but not as thi lawe.

Alle thi comaundementis ben treuthe; wickid men han pursued me, helpe thou me.

Almeest thei endiden me in erthe; but I forsook not thi comaundementis.

Bi thi mersi quikene thou me; and Y schal kepe the witnessingis of thi mouth.

Lord, thi word dwellith in heuene; with outen ende.

Thi treuthe dwellith in generacioun, and in to generacioun; thou hast foundid the erthe, and it dwellith.

The dai lastith contynueli bi thi ordynaunce; for alle thingis seruen to thee.

No but that thi lawe was my thenking; thanne perauenture Y hadde perischid in my lownesse.

With outen ende Y schal not foryete thi iustifiyngis; for in tho thou hast quikened me.

I am thin, make thou me saaf; for Y haue souyt thi iustifiyngis.

Synneris aboden me, for to leese me; Y vndurstood thi witnessingis.

I siy the ende of al ende; thi comaundement is ful large.

Lord, hou louede Y thi lawe; al dai it is my thenking.

Aboue myn enemyes thou madist me prudent bi thi comaundement; for it is to me with outen ende.

I vndurstood aboue alle men techinge me; for thi witnessingis is my thenking.

I vndirstood aboue eelde men; for Y souyte thi comaundementis.

I forbeed my feet fro al euel weie; that Y kepe thi wordis.

I bowide not fro thi domes; for thou hast set lawe to me.

Thi spechis ben ful swete to my cheekis; aboue hony to my mouth.

I vnderstood of thin heestis; therfor Y hatide al the weie of wickidnesse.

Thi word is a lanterne to my feet; and liyt to my pathis.

I swoor, and purposide stidefastli; to kepe the domes of thi riytfulnesse.

I am maad low bi alle thingis; Lord, quykene thou me bi thi word.

Lord, make thou wel plesinge the wilful thingis of my mouth; and teche thou me thi domes.

Mi soule is euere in myn hondis; and Y foryat not thi lawe.

Synneris settiden a snare to me; and Y erride not fro thi comaundementis.

I purchasside thi witnessyngis bi eritage with outen ende; for tho ben the ful ioiyng of myn herte.

I bowide myn herte to do thi iustifiyngis with outen ende; for reward.

I hatide wickid men; and Y louede thi lawe.

Thou art myn helpere, and my `taker vp; and Y hopide more on thi word.

Ye wickide men, bowe awei fro me; and Y schal seke the comaundementis of my God.

Vp take thou me bi thi word, and Y schal lyue; and schende thou not me fro myn abydyng.

Helpe thou me, and Y schal be saaf; and Y schal bithenke euere in thi iustifiyngis.

Thou hast forsake alle men goynge awey fro thi domes; for the thouyt of hem is vniust.

I arettide alle the synneris of erthe brekeris of the lawe; therfor Y louede thi witnessyngis.

Naile thou my fleischis with thi drede; for Y dredde of thi domes.

I dide doom and riytwisnesse; bitake thou not me to hem that falsli chalengen me.

Take vp thi seruaunt in to goodnesse; thei that ben proude chalenge not me.

Myn iyen failiden in to thin helthe; and in to the speche of thi riytfulnesse.

Do thou with thi seruaunt bi thi merci; and teche thou me thi iustifiyngis.

I am thi seruaunt, yyue thou vndurstondyng to me; that Y kunne thi witnessingis.

Lord, it is tyme to do; thei han distried thi lawe.

Therfor Y louede thi comaundementis; more than gold and topazion.

Therfor Y was dressid to alle thin heestis; Y hatide al wickid weie.

Lord, thi witnessingis ben wondirful; therfor my soule souyte tho.

Declaring of thi wordis liytneth; and yyueth vnderstonding to meke men.

I openede my mouth, and drouy the spirit; for Y desiride thi comaundementis.

Biholde thou on me, and haue merci on me; bi the dom of hem that louen thi name.

Dresse thou my goyingis bi thi speche; that al vnriytfulnesse haue not lordschip on me.

Ayeyn bie thou me fro the false chalengis of men; that Y kepe thin heestis.

Liytne thi face on thi seruaunt; and teche thou me thi iustifiyngis.

Myn iyen ledden forth the outgoynges of watris; for thei kepten not thi lawe.

Lord, thou art iust; and thi dom is riytful.

Thou hast comaundid riytfulnesse, thi witnessingis; and thi treuthe greetli to be kept.

Mi feruent loue made me to be meltid; for myn enemys foryaten thi wordis.

Thi speche is greetli enflawmed; and thi seruaunt louede it.

I am yong, and dispisid; Y foryat not thi iustifiyngis.

Lord, thi riytfulnesse is riytfulnesse with outen ende; and thi lawe is treuthe.

Tribulacioun and angwische founden me; thin heestis is my thenking.

Thi witnessyngis is equite with outen ende; yyue thou vndirstondyng to me, and Y schal lyue.

I criede in al myn herte, Lord, here thou me; and Y schal seke thi iustifiyngis.

I criede to thee, make thou me saaf; that Y kepe thi comaundementis.

I bifor cam in ripenesse, and Y criede; Y hopide aboue on thi wordis.

Myn iyen bifor camen to thee ful eerli; that Y schulde bithenke thi speches.

Lord, here thou my vois bi thi merci; and quykene thou me bi thi doom.

Thei that pursuen me neiyden to wickidnesse; forsothe thei ben maad fer fro thi lawe.

Lord, thou art nyy; and alle thi weies ben treuthe.

In the bigynnyng Y knewe of thi witnessingis; for thou hast foundid tho with outen ende.

Se thou my mekenesse, and delyuere thou me; for Y foryat not thi lawe.

Deme thou my dom, and ayenbie thou me; quikene thou me for thi speche.

Heelthe is fer fro synners; for thei souyten not thi iustifiyngis.

Lord, thi mercies ben manye; quykene thou me bi thi dom.

Thei ben manye that pursuen me, and doen tribulacioun to me; Y bowide not awei fro thi witnessingis.

I siy brekers of the lawe, and Y was meltid; for thei kepten not thi spechis.

Lord, se thou, for Y louede thi comaundementis; quikene thou me in thi merci.

The bigynnyng of thi wordis is treuthe; alle the domes of thi riytwisnesse ben withouten ende.

Princes pursueden me with outen cause; and my herte dredde of thi wordis.

I schal be glad on thi spechis; as he that fyndith many spuylis.

I hatide and wlatide wickidnesse; forsothe Y louede thi lawe.

I seide heriyngis to thee seuene sithis in the dai; on the domes of thi riytfulnesse.

Miche pees is to hem that louen thi lawe; and no sclaundir is to hem.

Lord, Y abood thin heelthe; and Y louede thin heestis.

Mi soule kepte thi witnessyngis; and louede tho greetli.

I kepte thi `comaundementis, and thi witnessingis; for alle my weies ben in thi siyt.

Lord, my biseching come niy in thi siyt; bi thi speche yyue thou vndurstonding to me.

Myn axing entre in thi siyt; bi thi speche delyuere thou me.

Mi lippis schulen telle out an ympne; whanne thou hast tauyte me thi iustifiyngis.

Mi tunge schal pronounce thi speche; for whi alle thi comaundementis ben equite.

Thin hond be maad, that it saue me; for Y haue chose thin heestis.

Lord, Y coueitide thin heelthe; and thi lawe is my thenking.

Mi soule schal lyue, and schal herie thee; and thi domes schulen helpe me.

I erride as a scheep that perischide; Lord, seke thi seruaunt, for Y foryat not thi comaundementis.

Its declaration in <a href="/bible/wycliffe/psalms/chapter-118/24">Psalms 118:24</a> that 'this is the day which the LORD hath made' pairs with the stone imagery Jesus applies to himself in <a href="/bible/wycliffe/luke/chapter-20/17">Luke 20:17</a>.